RBC and B+H architects launch second annual Evolve Sustainable Design Competition for Canadian university students

Prizes total $20,000 to benefit students and schools

TORONTO, October 22, 2013 - RBC and B+H today announced the launch of the second annual Evolve Sustainable Design Competition for university students in Canada. This year, Evolve challenges student teams to design a net-zero energy and water-wise sports institute.

The winning team will receive a cash prize of $5,000, with runner-up prizes of $3,500 and $1,500. In addition, each winning team will receive a matching donation to their university from the RBC Foundation.

"B+H relies heavily upon student involvement within our practice," said Kevin Stelzer, principal and competition director, B+H. "We are continually inspired by the energy and rigour the students bring to their work. We are thrilled to be involved in a student-driven event again this year - and very much look forward to seeing the innovative submissions."

Teams are encouraged to explore the design and function of a high performance sports research facility. The competition asks teams to develop ways to minimize energy and water use through site planning, building design, systems technology, and operations.

Composed of at least two students, with interdisciplinary groups encouraged, teams can register anytime until November 15, and registered teams can submit their designs until January 15, 2014. Winners will be announced in February 2014.

"We know that sustainability is an increasing focus in curricula across the country, and we're glad to provide students with opportunities to gain experience in green design," said Sandra Odendahl, director, Corporate Sustainability, RBC. "We are very proud of our partnership with B+H, as we both support the need for more sustainable communities."

Submissions will be reviewed by an expert panel of judges, including:

Douglas Birkenshaw, Design Principal, B+H Architects

Christopher Hume, Architecture Critic, Toronto Star

Debbie Low, CEO of Canadian Sport Institute of Ontario

Brian Price, RBC Olympian and member of Canada's gold-winning Men's 8 Rowing Team

Dr. John Straube, University of Waterloo

Doug Webber, Director Halsall Sustainable Engineering

Last year's Evolve competition challenged university students to design a sustainable bank branch that incorporated innovative yet practical concepts for achieving extreme energy efficiency, included renewable power systems and minimized the branch's water use. For details on last year's winners and to register for this year's competition visit: www.evolvecompetition.ca.

About RBC and SustainabilityRBC employs approximately 80,000 full and part-time employees who serve more than 15 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 49 other countries. RBC is recognized among the world's financial, social and environmental leaders and has been named one of the world's Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World, one of Canada's Greenest Employers, one of Canada's 50 Most Socially Responsible Corporations and one of the Best Workplaces in Canada. RBC is also listed on the Jantzi Social Index and the FTSE4Good Index. Nearly a quarter of RBC's global office space, 2 million square feet, is LEED certified, and we're committed to increasing that number. RBC WaterPark Place, currently under development by Oxford Properties, will be the first LEED Platinum office tower in Toronto. Learn more about RBC community and sustainability at www.rbc.com/community-sustainability.

About B+H and SustainabilityB+H has been in the business of shaping the built environment for sixty years with award winning architectural, planning and interior design services delivering innovative sustainable design solutions to large scale, technically complex projects around the world. We believe in buildings that are intelligently planned, provide high returns for low cost, and focus on enhancing the relationship between, and the performance of, people and their environment. The work of our integrated global practice with offices in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Delhi, Dubai and Doha spans all major sectors - commercial, entertainment, healthcare, hospitality, industrial, institutional, mixed-use, residential, retail, sports and transportation.